Rotating air distributing outlets



April 17, 1956 H. s. WHELLER ROTATING AIR DISTRIBUTING OUTLETS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 28, 1952 IN VEN TOR. HHRR Y 6 WHE LLER BY FITTORNC Y April 17, 1956 H. s. WHELLER ROTATING AIR DISTRIBUTING OUTLETS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 28, 1952 INVENTOR. Hl-7RRY 5. WHEZLLUR HTTORNEY April 17, 1956 H. s. WHELLER 2,741,971

ROTATING AIR DISTRIBUTING OUTLETS Filed June 28, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ti :ilE.

INVENTOR.

HHRRY S. WHELLER FITTORNEY April 17, 1956 H. s. WHELLER ROTATING AIR DISTRIBUTING OUTLETS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 28, 1952 INVENTOR BY {7 2/03 FITTORNEY United States Patent ROTATING AIR DISTRIBUTING OUTLETS arryS.'Wheller, ElizahethfN. *J., assignor to L, J. Wing "Mfg.-Co.,Linden,N. J.,'a-corporation of New Jersey Application June 28, 1952, :Serial No. 296,119 12 Claims. (Cl; 98- 40) This invention relatesto rotating air distributors.

It is particularly directed to the distribution of air supplied to rooms'orother spaces for-ventilating, cooling, or heating.

object of this invention 'is to provide means for assuring against (or preventing) occupants of, or goods being-"processed 'in,-spaces-to which air is'being supplied, being subjected to constant drafts of air 'from fixed openingsor outlets'throughwhich air is delivered to such space.

Afurther object of this inventionis toprovide an air distributor of thecharacter described which will rotate aby-influence of air 'force'd'through it in combination with means for retarding an'dcontrolling the rate of rotation o'fthe distributor.

The distributor consists -of a chamber arranged to =rotate horizontally on-a vertical axis, said chamber to be 'provided withone or more-outlets so placed that as the air leaves them the chamber is'cause'd to rotate opposite to 'thedirection'in which the air is discharged. Thus, the direction of each outlet is constantly changing and, therefore, any occupant, orgoodsin process,'will'not be subjected-"to a constant uninterrupted draft, but, instead, toa gentle motion of air at interrupted intervals, the frequency dependinguponthe rateof rotation of the chamber, which is controllable and may 'be readily in- .creased or decreased to suit conditions.

The :outlets are provided with adjustable vanes'persmitting delivery of ':air horizontally or at any desired downward angle 1 to the perpendicular.

Airipreviously cooled, or heated, or otherwise'treated .as dehumidifie'd, etc., is carriedto therotatable chamber from the 'point'wherethe :airis treated through the'duct 'to which the :distributor is :attached, and is thus forced through the"- outlets.

Any numberof :such distributors-may be applied to a .given .space, but'one distributor of this type will effect iuniforrnairdistribution over a much'wider area than ,prior-fixedtoutlet typestof distributors/thus reducingthe inumber ofadistributors 'required, and, consequently, reducing. the cost of: the system.

The number of outlets per distributor dependsilargely .upon the area or space to which the air is to be supplied the larger'the area the more outlets.

.In the case of more than one outlet, the downward angle of delivery is adjusted dilferently for each outlet. The outlets which are .toproject airthe greatest distance are set at a less angle to the horizontal, and thosecovering the inside area are adjusted to progressively greater angles.

In the case of distributors with multiple outlets the size 'of the outlets may be varied; those intended to projectthe air'the greatest distance would be larger, and the others progressively smaller.

Many distributing outlets, as heretofore made, when used todeliver cooledair to'rooms or. othersp'aces, .function primarily xto ::spread -all or portions of the air it distributes horizontally over a reasonably wide area at the ceiling, from which, theoretically, it is supposed to drop of its own weight and thus cool the room; however, if .theair which is spread horizontally by such outlets strikes a wall it will deflect downwardly and anyone located nearthe wall will be subject to an objectionable constant and uninterrupted draft. 'The same is also true ifthe air strikes as column or other obstruction.

When such 'prior outlets as used for cooling are used .for heating, .that is, for delivery of heated air to .the "rooms, warm air delivered horizontally at the ceiling does not reach the floor or working level unless in its horizontal travel it does strike a wall or column, in which case it will be deflected down the wall to the floor, .thus subjecting anyone or anything within the area of influence to a constant draft or cloud of heated air above normal room temperature, or .ifthe outlet were so far away from a wall or column that its velocity was spent before reaching the wall, heated air would never reach the floor but would accumulate atthe ceiling, thus the temperature at the ceiling would always be much warmer "than the air at'thefioor or working level. .In other words, such-outlets allow ones feet to remain cold while the upper portions of the body would be overseated.

It is, therefore, a further object of .this invention to provide an improved air distributor which rotates and has one or more outlets, and is so constructed as to eliminate the above objections of prior outlets. The air distributor embodying the invention is' so constructed .as to "deliberately project air streams angularly downward "to the floor so that the heated 'air will'be delivered .to the 'floor to dispose the cold (or cooler) air from the floor, but in'doing so would not subject the occupants, or any contents 'of'the 'room to constant uninterrupted drafts orblasts of air. In cooling, the outlet embodying the invention would have all of the advantages so far as "the elimination of objectionable constant uninterrupted drafts are concerned, plus the'added cooling effect of air 'in'm'otion, thus producing a higher degree of cooling comfort with a given amount of coolant, and, therefore, at less 'cost.

Yet a further object'of this invention is to provide a strong, rugged and durable revolving air distributor, which shall be simple'and positivein operation, relatively inexpensive to'manufacture, whichshall yetbe practical 'and efiicient to ahigh d'e'gree'in'use.

"Other objects 'ofthis invention will in part be obvious and input hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of "parts, which'will be exemplifiedin the construction hereinafter described,and of which the scope of invention will be indicated'in the following claims.

In the accompanying-drawings in which is shown ious illustrative embodiments of this invention:

Fig. .1 .is a verticalaxialcross-sectional view of a =revolving air distributor embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on'the:line.2-2 of.Fig. 1;

Fig. '3 is an enlarged the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 .is a cross-sectional view taken on theline -4-.4 of Fig. "3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken onthe line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken on theline 66 of Fig. 3

Fig. 7 is a view-similar to Fig. .6 but showingtthere- 'tarding device inan adjustedposition;

Fig. *8 is an'outside'view'of'the retarding device .em- Lpl'oyedinthe structure showninFig. 1;

crossesectional view taken ton Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a modified construction for use under diiferent conditions than the device of Fig. 1, such as in rooms of greater height;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken, on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 1212 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and illustrating yet another modified construction;

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 14-14 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 13 and illustrating still another modified construction; and

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 16-16 of Fig. 15.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, 10 designates a revolving air distributor embodying the invention for distributing air supplied to rooms or other places for ventilation, heating, and/ or cooling.

The distributor 10 is suspended for rotation from a stationary support 11 which may be attached to an air duct 12 or to other means to bring air to and force it through the outlet. The air duct 12 is hence shown in the drawings merely as representative of a means for conveying air for distribution.

The stationary support 11 comprises an annular member 13 having a downwardly projecting cylindrical portion 14 from which extends upwardly an outwardly curved portion 15 formed with a horizontal flange 16. Flange '16 may be attached to the bottom wall 12a of the duct 12 to surround an opening 17a therein, in any suitable manner or to any other means which supplies a stream of air to be blown downwardly through said member 13.

Fixed with the lower end of the cylindrical or annular portion 14 is a spider 17 comprising a hub 18 from which extend a plurality of radial spokes 19 connected at their ends to a ring 20 which fits within said cylindrical portion and which is attached thereto in any suitable manner. The hub 18 is formed with a central vertical screw threaded through opening 21. Extending through and screwed within opening 21 is a shank 22 of a bolt 22a having a head 23 at its lower end. A nut 24 screwed to the upper end of the bolt shank 22 rests on the hub 18.

Mounted on the bolt 22a and supported for axial rotation thereon, is the rotating or revolving air distributor 10. The same comprises a casing 25. Said casing comprises an upper cylindrical wall 26, the upper end of which telescopes with the lower end 14 of supporting member 11. Fitted within said wall 26 below the upper end thereof, is a spider 27 spaced below spider 17. The

same comprises a center hub sleeve 28 centered with hub 18 and connected by radial spokes 29 to a circular ring 30 disposed within the cylindrical wall 26 and fixed thereto in any suitable manner. Within the center sleeve 28 is a thrust ball bearing 31 through which the shank of the bolt 22a passes. 23 of the bolt and connects the sleeve for rotation about the bolt 22a. Thus, the casing 25 is supported for rotation by the bolt. I

Said cylindrical wall 26 is formed with an annular indented groove 34, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Extending from the cylindrical wall 26 are a plurality of similar horizontal wall portions or wings 35, four of such wings being shown for the purpose of illustration. Said wings 35 have spirally shaped outer edges 36 extending outwardly from the wall 26. Said wings 35 also have straight end edges 37 which form acute backwardly sloped angles with radial lines passing through the portions of said edges closest to the wall 26. Extending downwardly from the outer edges 36 of wall 35 are curved walls 38 extending spirally and following the curvature of edges 36.

At the bottom of the casing is a central circular wall Said ball bearing 31 rests on the head 4. portion 41 from which extend wings 42 similar to and aligned with wings 35 and extending to the curved walls 38. The curved walls 38 have vertical straight edges 44 and the bottom wall portions 42 have straight end edges 45.

Wings 35 and 42 and interconnecting wall 38 form an outer air nozzle 48. The edges 37, 44, 45 of each nozzle 48 are disposed in a single vertical plane.

It will now be understood that four air outlets or nozzles 48 are formed through which air must pass out of the casing. These nozzles are slightly overlapped as shown in the drawing.

It will now be understood that air passing through duct 12 and down through the fixed supporting member 11 will pass into the casing 25 and out through the nozzles 48 thereby causing self rotation of the distributor 10 about its axis in the direction of the dotted arrows (Fig. 2), due to back pressures creating a torque on the outlet.

Means is provided to deflect the streams of air coming from the nozzles in downwardly inclined directions as the outlet rotates. To this end there may be mounted across the mouth of each nozzle a plurality of parallel transverse downwardly and outwardly inclined deflecting vanes 50. These vanes may be adjustable if desired and cause the stream of air to be deflected in downwardly and outwardly inclined directions as the. outlet rotates.

When the distributor 10 is used for heated air, the heated air will be delivered downwardly to the floor to dispose the cold air from the floor. When used for cool air, the distributor 10 will produce the elfect of reducing the temperature of the room and a cooling efiiect caused by the downwardly projecting rotating column of air. In any event, such an outlet will remove the objection to fixed outlets which send out streams of air horizontally and which cause an objectionable constant and uninterrupted draft when used for distributing air for cooling or heating, and which when used for distributing air for heating results in higher overhead temperature than the temperature at the floor or working level.

Means is provided to retard and control the self rotation of the distributor 10. To this end there is attached to member 13 in any suitable manner, a bracket 51. Said bracket 51 has an arm 52 supporting a casing 53. Said casing 53 has a bottom wall 54 from which extends upwardly cylindrical wall 55. Extending upwardly from the bottom wall 54 is a central integral sleeve 56 in which is fixed a vertical bushing 57 open at the top. Said bottom wall 54 is also formed with an integral sleeve 58 offset from the axis and formed with a through-opening in which is received a fixed bushing 59. Sleeve 58 extends above and below bottom wall 54 and bushing 59. Extending upwardly from the bottom wall 54 is an upstanding vertical sleeve 60 closed at the bottom and open at the top. Fixed within the sleeve 60, for the purpose hereinafter appearing, is a bushing 61. The upper ends of the sleeves 58 and 60 and their bushings are well below the upper end of the cylindrical wall 55 and substantially at a common level. Sleeve 56 and its bushing extend above sleeves 58, 60.

The cylindrical wall 55 is counterbored at its upper end as shown at 63, and the inner surface of the counterbore is formed with an annular intermediate internal groove 64 for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Said bottom wall 54 is furthermore formed with a depressed part-cylindrical recess 65 disposed perpendicular to a plane passing through the axes of sleeves 56 and 60. Rotatably mounted with the bushing 59 is a vertical pin 66. Riveted to the upper end of the pin 66 is a pinion 67 which rests on sleeve 58. The pin 66 projects below sleeve 58 and attached to said projecting end of said pin by means of set screws 68 is a pulley 69 disposed in the plane of the annular groove 34 in the cylindrical wall 26 of casing 25. Interconnecting the pulley .69 with the groove portion 34 is a flexible belt opener-d '70 which in -the present instance is shoWn-inthe form of an endless coil spring. I

--It will now be observed that as the distributor rotates, pulley 69 will also be rotated for rotating the .pinion or gear 67.

Mounted for rotation within the-bushing-61 is a vertticalpinfll. Fixed to the upper endof the pin 71 is a smaller lower pinion 72 meshing with the pinion 67,.and an upper largerpinion 73. The latter meshes with the ;pinion 74 hired to the upper end of pin 75 rotatably :mounted within the bushing 57.

It will :now be understood that rotation of the pulley .69 will cause rotation of the pin 75.

-Fixed'to the top ofpin 75 and disposed above-pinion 74 isa horizontal circular disk 76 preferably made of :copper. The outer diameter of the disk 76 is somewhat :smaller than the inner diameter of cylindrical wall 55 of casing 53.

Fixedwithin the recess 65 is a permanent magnet 77 ofhorseshoe shape. The middle curved portion 78 of saidmagnet is fixed within the recess'65 and said magnet has upwardly extending arms 79 and 80, the upper ends :of which are located just below the level of the disk 76.

Mounted within the counterbore portion63 of the casing is a cover;plate 8'1 and said cover plate is held in placeby a split ring 82 which'fits within the internal groove-$4. The annular position of the cover plate 81 =may be adjusted by means of a handle 84 having one =end-85 fixed to the cover plate and anotherportion 86 extending over the cylindrical wall 65 and projecting tdownwardly. Attached to the underside of plate -81 is .a steel plate 8'7. The'steel plate 87 and'the handle 85 -may be attached to opposite sides of the plate :81 by -means of screws 88. a

It will now be understood that rotation of the disk 76 will be retarded by reason of the magnet .flux passing therethroug'h from the magnet 7'7 to the steel plate 87. ."Insuch manner the rotation of the outlet is retarded. The degree of retardation may be adjusted by grasping the handle portion 86 and turning the disk 81 to bring "the steel plate 87 closer or further away from the upper ends of'the magnet legs 79 and80. The retarding device -53 thus serves to prevent too'rapid a rotation of the outlet.

A scale 90 may be placed on the outside of the cylindrical wall 55 to cooperate with the handle portion *86 which serves as a pointer. The lower end of the handle portion 86 may come to a point for thispurpose.

In-Fig. 7 the steel plate is shown in a position offset rfI'OIn the position shown in Fig. 6 to illustrate the adjustability.

In Figs. 9, 10, 11 and '12 thereis shown a revolving uair distributor 'ltla embodying the inventionand illustrating a modified construction. The distributor 10a is mounted on a fixed supporting member 11 similar to member -11 shown in Fig. 1. 'Said supporting member 11 may be attached to any means for producing a stream of air downwardly therethrough. The distributor 1011 comprises a spider -27 similar-to the spider 27 of Fig. 1 and mounted for rotation on abolt 22a fixed to the "hub '18 of a spider -17 fixed within the throat l3 of member 11. Fixed to'the ring '30 of the spider 27 is the upper cylin- "drical wall "100 of a casing 101. The cylindrical 'wall "100 is formed with an annular groove 102 for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Extending downwardlyfrom the cylindrical wall 1&0 are a pair of similar symmetrically disposed nozzles 103 inclined downwardly and outwardly in opposite directions and disposed on opposite sides ofa vertical plane passing through wards of the'bolt22a. Nozzles 103 may taper slightly toward their ends, being frusto conical in shape.

Thus air passing downwardly through member 11 will be directed downwardly and outwardly through the nozzles 103. Furthermore, the distributor 1011 will have self rotation under the influence of air blown therethrough by reason of the fact that the air emerges from the nozzles of the distributor 10a.

1in=directions which-are mot iradial wvith riespect tto'tth axis=of the toutlet.

1 provided with a sleeve 107 :at r its router end. iReceived witliin the sleeve 107 @is :a stem i108, :fi-xed thereto by .a set screw r109. 'AtlthG-IOWCI .end' of the Jsten'i 108 iis ta flat annular disk 110 formed with a peripheral .upwardly extending flange x111 having 'iexternal:escrewtthreads r112.

:Screwed to the .threadedportion illl isxacylindrical wall 12'13uof: a :casing .114. Said: casing 'tliltlrhas a thottom'wall 115. The stem r108 is :form' with I an eccentrically located vertical through opening .116. "Extending :through said opening 116 and rotatablyimounte'd .thereinsis alpint117. J'Fhe lowerend'of :thepin5117 is adjacent.theiuppensurface 'of the bottom wall 115. Fixedztotthempperrendfof the pin 117 as by set screw 118 is a pulley 119 connected by a coil'fiexible belt 512010 the grooved portion 102 of the distributor 10a.

It will nowbe understood that as theoutletiltla rotates due to the influence .of 'air passing therethrough, it' will cause the pulley 1119 to rotate, .therebyalso rotating 'the pm :117. .Fixed to the .lowerwend of the 1pin-117 land located withinthe casing 114 and between the bottom wall andthe wall :-.110 is.a :rotor 1 2.1.coax'ial with the pin 117 and being substantially :tangent to-the inner surface of the .cylindrical "wall .118. The top surface =ofrotor 1'21 is'below the.undersurface of'wall 1:10.

The rotor 121 is formed with-a plurality of vertical U-shapednotches or slots122 tangent toacommon circle coaxial with :the rotor. 'Within each =sl0t or notch 1:22 isa vertical sleeve or tube 123 whichimay slide in and outthrough the slot. Within the chamber 124 formed in the casing '1'14between walls 113, =1-15'and 1 10=isa liquid suchasoil. As the rotor- 121is rotated;the-sleeves 123 are carried round andround and move inwardly an'd outwardly alternately through the slots 122. During such rotation the chambers formed bet-ween =rotor 121 of the casing wall'113 on'opposite sides'ofthe'tubes 128, vary in volume, so that the 'oil must fiow from :one

chamber to another. The oil flows from one chamber to another by passing above the rotor 121 and above the-tubes 123'through the spacebelow wall llfl, causing retarding of the rotor,-and hence a-'retardi'ng movement of the pulley- 119 and'casing1'09.

A rubber cap 125 may be fitted over the top of the easing'll4 and it is formed with a central opening through which the stem' 108 passes. Oil may be inserte'd'into the casing through an inclined opening 126 passing through stem 108 and communicating with 'a counterbore I 27 at the bottomof wall 1 10.

Furthermore, air holes 128 may 'be provided -the top wall 110 to permit trapped air-to escape. There is thus provided a hydraulicbrake for 'retarding'antl controlling the movement of the: outlet 10a.

In Figs. 13 and 1 4 there is=shown a revolving-air' distributor 10b suspended 'for rotation from 'a stationary support 11. The-outlet 10b is similar to thedistributor 10 except that it is provided with onlytwo'nozzles instead of four'nozzles 48 asin thelatte'r outlet. Rotationof the distributor 10b may also 'be controlled by a device 53 belted to the outlet casing v by be'lt70 in the same manner'as in the modificati'onshown in Figs. 1 to'8.

-In Figs. I-S'and 16 there is shown :a revolving airdistributor 100 similar to the distributor 1 0 except'that it is provided with three nozzles I31'instead offour nozzles. It may be provided with a magnetic type of retarder or brake shown in Figs. 1 to 8 or other form of retarder.

While there is shown distributors of two, three or four nozzles or outlets, the distributor may have only one nozzle or outlet. Thus an air distributor may be provided such as shown in Fig. 14 but with only one nozzle cr outlet for use in a very small room requiring a very small quantity of air. Such construction would give required power to rotate the outlet and increase the projection of the column of air. Such a distributor would also be provided with retarding means as shown.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of 'the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. A fixed support, an air distributor comprising a casing having one or more outlet nozzles, means to mount said distributor on said support for rotation about its axis, a casing fixed relative to said support, a rotary member within said last mentioned casing, a pulley attached to said rotary member for rotation therewith, means for belting said pulley to said distributor, and means to retard the rotation of said rotary member within the last mentioned casing.

2. A fixed support, an air distributor comprising a casing having one or more outlet nozzles, means to mount said distributor on said support for rotation about its axis, a casing fixed relative to said support, a rotary member within said last mentioned casing, a pulley attached to said rotary member for rotation therewith, means for belting said pulley to said distributor, means to retard the rotation of said rotary member Within the last mentioned casing,and vanes within said nozzles to deflect air downwardly and outwardly.

3. In combination, a support, an air distributor mounted thereon for rotation about its axis, said distributor being provided with one or more outlet nozzles to cause selfrotation of the distributor when air is forced through the distributor, a casing, means to fix said casing to said support, a copper disk mounted for rotation in said fixed casing, means connected with the air distributor to cause rotation of said disk when the distributor is rotated, a fixed magnet within the casing and adjacent said disk, and on one side thereof.

4. The combination of claim 3, in combination with a cover mounted for rotation on said fixed casing and at the other side of said copper disk, and a member comprising iron fixed to the cover, said cover being rotatable relative to said fixed casing to bring said member into and out of alignment with respect to said fixed magnet.

5. The combination of claim 4, and a handle fixed to said cover to facilitate rotation thereof.

6. In combination, a support, an air distributor mounted thereon and provided with air distributing nozzles for rotation about its axis, said distributor being provided with means to cause self-rotation of the distributor when air is forced through the distributor, a cylindrical casing,

.meaus to fix said casing to said support, a copper disk mounted for rotation within said casing about the axis of said casing, a pin mounted for rotation on said casing and passing through a wall of said casing and being offset from the axis of said casing, means to connect said pin for rotation to said distributor, a gearing interconnecting said disk and said pin and disposed within said casing, a permanent magnet fixed within said casing and disposed below said disk, a cover on the upper end of the casing, and a member comprising iron fixed to the underside of the cover in opposed relation to the fixed magnet.

7. The combination of claim 6, said cover being rotatable with respect to said casing, and a handle fixed to the cover and overhanging one side of the cylindrical casing.

8. A fixed support, an air distributor comprising a casing having one or more outlet nozzles, means to mount said distributor on said support for rotation about its axis, a casing fixed to said support, a rotary member within said casing, a pulley attached to said rotary member for rotation therewith, means for belting said pulley to said distributor, means to retard the rotation of said rotary member within said casing, and means to control the rate of retardation of said rotary member by adjustment of said means of retardation.

9. The combination of claim 8, and said means of retardation including a rotary copper disc within said casing and connected for rotation to said rotary member, and a magnet adjacent said disc.

10. In combination, a fixed support, an air distributor having one or more outlet nozzles, means to mount said distributor on said support for rotation about its axis, said nozzles being positioned to cause self rotation of said distributor when air is forced through said distributor, a member mounted for rotation on a fixed axis relative to said support and outside of said distributor, drive means connecting said distributor to said rotary member for rotating said rotary member continuously upon said distributor being rotated, means to retard the rotation of said rotary member for retarding rotation of said distributor, and means affecting the rotary member to vary the rate of retardation.

11. In combination, a support, an air distributor mounted thereon for rotation about its axis, said distributor being provided with one or more outlet nozzles arranged to cause self rotation of the distributor when air is forced through the distributor, a copper disc, supporting means to-mount said disc on said support for rotation about afixed axis, means connected with the distributor to cause rotation of said disc when said distributor is rotated, and a magnet mounted on said supporting means adjacent said disc for retarding rotation thereof.

12. The combination of claim 11, said magnet being on one side of said copper disc, a member comprising iron on the other side of said copper disc, and means on said supporting means to mount said member for movement to bring said member into and out of alignment with respect to said magnet for varying the rate of retardation of said disc.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,990,801 Spear Feb. 12, 1935 2,000,112 Wheller May 7, 1935 2,149,885 Green Mar. 7, 1939 2,252,954 Wheller Aug. 19, 1941 2,293,748 Johnson Aug. 25, 1942 2,390,630 Wheller Dec. 11, 1945 2,457,934 Spieth Jan. 4, 1949 2,619,892 Babcock Dec. 2, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 267,656 Great Britain Mar. 24, 1927 280,098 Switzerland Apr. 16, 1952 

